Channeling-machine.



A. BALL & H. H. MERCER.

CHANNELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.20 1907.

Patented June 20, 1916.

5 SHEETSSHEET l- THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH (20.. WASHINGTON, D. c. i

A. BALL & H. H. IVIERCER.

CHANNELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-20. I907.

Patented June 20, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE mLgMBlA PLANOGRAPH 60., WASHINGTON, n. c.

A. BALL & H. H. MERCER.

CHANNELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.20, 1901.

- Patented June 20, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

wmm.

THE COLUMBIA PLANouRAPl-l co., WASHINGTON, n. c-

A. BALL & H. H. MERCER.

CHANNELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-20. I90?- 1 II @fi, I. QIU Patented June 20, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

I "IIIIIIIII III flmzwmfiwlwx ymce 3% 5 a Mmry I A. BALL & H. H. MERCER.

in iilfiillg liillllllllllllllly I lUNlfTED @TATES PATENT ALBERT BALLAND HENRY H. MERCER, OF CLAREM'GNT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIG-NORfi BY MESNEASSIGITMENTS, '10 SULLIVAN MACHINERY COMPANY, 0F BGSTQN, F515SAGHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF lv'IASSACI'TUSETTS.

CHANNELING-MACl-IINE.

Application filed. August 20, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we ALBERT BALL and HENRY H. ll lnnonn, both citizens ofthe United States, and residents of Claremont, in the county ofSliillivan and State of New Hampshire, have invented an Improvement inChanneling-Machines, of which the following description, in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters onthe drawings representing like parts.

Our invention relates to channeling machines, being particularlyintended to increase the working eiiiciency of such machines.

Although our invention may be variously applied, we have hereinillustrated the same as embodied in a track ehanneler having a wheeledtruck, at the edge of which there is mounted side by side a pair ofchanneling units which in the present instance consist of pressure fluidengines and toolconnected piston, but so mounted that they may besimultaneously moved for any desired or usual adjustment.

In efforts to increase the working capacity of channelers it has beenattempted to increase the size or number of the channeling toolsconnected to a single engine as well as the power and capacity of suchengine. It has been found, however, that there is a limit to the size ofthe tool gang for a single channeling unit, which limit, if surpassed,results in a rapid deterioration in the quality or excellency of thework accomplished.

The present invention has for its object to increase the workingcapacity of a track channeler by providing two or more units,

each provided with atool gang of ordinary size, said units being soassociated with each other and the machine that they may be readily usedupon a track channeler in substitution for a single unit, such as is nowgenerally employed, while substantially doubling or more than doublingthe working capacity thereof and at the same time obtaining increasedeliiciency and superior results.

Our invention will be best understood by reference to the followingdescription when taken in connection with the accompanying illustrationof one specific embodiment thereof, while its scope will be moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2th, i91

Serial No. 389,362.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a channeling machineembodying one form of our invention; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing amodified form of toolfeeding mechanism; Fig. 8 is an end elevation ofthe channeling machine shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an end elevation of amodi fied form of the machine; Fig. 5 shows the relation of thecontrolling valves for the two engines; and Fig. 6 shows theconstruction of the brace bars for the machine shown in Fig. 4:.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 3, while ourinvention may be usefully embodied in channeling and other machines ofvarious and different types, we have here shown a form of trackchanneling machine comprising the main truck or frame 1 mounted upon thewheels 2, the latter adapted to move upon the usual rails 8 laid alongthe quarry bottom.

The truck may be propelled in any suit able way but herein it carries atraek-driving motor or engine 4 and usually a boiler (the latter notshown), the engine crankshaft 5 being connected through the reversinggearing 6, clutch shaft 12, spur gear 7, worm shaft 8 and worm gears 9with the truck axles 10, whereby the truck may be driven under its ownpower. The clutch lever 11 is constructed and connected to clutchtheshaft 12 to one or the other of the two oppositely driven bevel gears ofthe reversing gearingv 6 to effect movement of the truck in eitherdirection. Such gearing may be of any suitable or usual constructionandL is iimnecessary to describe in further detail, the same hereinbeing of the general principle disclosed in U. S. patent to Ball, No.892,398.

While the channeling units may be carried on the truck in any suitablemanner, there is here shown, supported at the working side of the truck,the supporting plate 18 serving adjustably to carry the upright standard14. The plate is mounted for a limited angular adjustment away from thevertical plane, being provided at either end with a longitudinaldepending supporting member 15, which is fulcrumed in a groove in thetruck frame, in which it is held down by means of the bolts 16 andclamps 17. The clamp may be loosened and the plate tipped back for anglecutting through adjustment of the stay or brace rods 18. The front face'ot the supporting plate is provided with horizontal "i" slots 19, towhich the standard l i may be bolted, beingadjustable to either end.otthe truck or any other intermediate po- 7 sition.

Referring now to the channeling units,

the latter are two in number, although more verse the tool feed.

may be employed if desired. iVhile other terms of motive devices forreciprocating the channeling tools may be employed, we have thereinshown ordinary and usual con structions of pressure fluid engines havingth ir cylinders 20, 21, together with the' cross-head guides 22, 23,which act to guide the tool-carrying cross-heads 25, all mounted uponand carried by a vertically adjustable frame The latter is gibbedtoslide upon longitudinal finished ways 27 upon the standard, and theupper end of the cylinder casting is attached to the lower endot thefeed adjusting screw 28, so that through the latter the cylinders, frameand. tool gangs may be advanced or retracted relatively to the worki' Ansuitable means for ieedin the tools C2 inthe manner set forth may beemployed,

but herein we have provided a threaded nut secured to the beveled gear31 and held against longitudinal movement by the standard 14. The nutand gear are turned by the sprocket wheel 32, the latter being driventhrough the chain 33 and the engine 1-, so that the latter is availableto teed the tool toward or from the work, a controlling lever 3% beingemployed to start, stop 'and re- In Fig. 9 we have shown a modifiedconstruction of feeding mechanism, the same differing from thatdescribed in the provision of two feeding screws 28, each connected tocylinders and in the axial line of its respective cylinder and eachengaging with a threaded nut supported in the arch oi? the standard andturned through the medium of the intermeshing gears 35 and 86. Thisbrings the resistance of each ieeding'screw versing valve of one iscontrolled by the reciprocatory movement of the other, thereby keeplngthem in reversed relatlon or op- )osed ste that is to say as one anmoves 7 t s o a up the other moves down and vice versa,

Referring to Fig. 1, the reverslng valve torthe left hand engine 21 has1ts stem 37 connected to the lever 38, which latter has one end pivotedto the frame 26, and its opposite end connected by the link 39 to theright-hand cross-head 21-. Likewise the stem 10 of the reversing valvefor the righthand engine 20 is connected by means of the lever +11 andthe link 42 to the left-hand cross-head 25. By this means the downwardmovement of the right-hand CF05."- head causes downward movement of thercversing valve for the left-hand engine, so that a reversal of thelatter from an upward movement to a downward movement takes place at ornear the center of the downward movement ot the right-hand cross-head.The right-hand engine is controlled in a like manner from the left-handcross-head This insures syncirronism in the movement of the two enginesand the action of the two tool gangs in opposed step.

ll hilc the de'ailed construction of the valves is immaterial, and ourinvention not limited to any particular form or arrangement thcreoit, wehave shown in l i g. 5, without reterence to constructional accu racy,the gene al scheme or arrangeimxnt ot passages by which this control isell'ccted. Such schen'ic or arrangement shows the usual form of maincontrolling valve tor each cylinder, the controlling valve, however, ineach case being reversed by pressure admit-tedv through the medium oi?an auxiliary reversing valve controlled by the cross-head of thecompanion engine instead of its own cross-head as is customary.

The general arrangement ot valves will be. apparent by reference to lig. 5, a detailed description of the reversing and controlling valvesfer one cylinder only being necessary since the details of theconstruction of the valves tor the other cylinder are substantiallysimilar. Referring to the valves controlling the right-hand cylinder,live steam or other pressure is admitted from any convenient source tothe reversing valve chamber Kl-3 tor the right-haml engine and thenceadmitted to the upper or lower passages -Ll-l-, l5, leading to oppositeends 01 the main controlling valve 16 for the right hand cylinder. Thecontrol of said passages and also of the exhaust par-:sage at? iseiiected by the slide valve -18 controlled by the valve stem i0, so thatwhen the said. stem moves downward as shown in the drawings the passagea5 is connected to the exhaust 17 and the passage it to the livepressure, thereby forcing the controlling valve 46 downward into theposition shown. lhis admits pressure from the pressure chamber 1-9 ofthe reversing valve tor the lett-hand cylinder to the uppercylinderadmission-port 50 through the intermediate port 51, the lowercylinder-exhaust-port 52 being connected with the space 53 in thecontrolling valve chamber, which has perlit) manent connection with theengine exhaust. Lost motion is provided between the slide valve 48 andthe valve stem d0, so that the reversal of the controlling valve 4L6does not take place until the close of the downward movement of thevalve stone so. At the close the upward movement of the valve stem 40the passage 4L5 is connected with the pressure, and passage ll with theexhaust, thereby lifting the controlling valve 4L6, admitting pressureto the lower cylindenadmissionport and exhausting the same through theupper cylinder-exhaust-port 55.

Precisely the same control over the left hand engine is effected by theinoven'ient of the valve stem 3'7, the only dillerenee being that tietwo movements are reverse or eppesite.

As the machine travels along the track, for example, from left to right,the right hand game; will first reach the vertical end of the out. Thiswill leave a short portion of the cut equal to the distance between theinner sides of each gang, over which only one gang; has passed, and inwhich the cut is therefore slmllower than the remaining portion of thechannel groove. To cut this distance down to its proper level it is necesary to traverse the n'iacliine back while operating the right-handQjang. During this operation the left-hand should not strike the bottomof the cut. To prevent this have provided a cushioning; valve for eachengine in the form of a gate 56 (Fig. which may be operated by the h:idle 57 from the rear of the cylinder and turned to thvttle more or lessthe exhaust passage, if, under the conditions assumed, the cr Ironingvalve is thrown in, the

downward stroke of the left-hai'id one; ie will be cushioned, allowingits gang to miss the rock, while the right-hand will continue to cut. lnorder to throttle more or less the :ulniission and exhaust for botl setsof each cylinder, additional throttle valves or gates 58, 59 and 60 areshown (Fi 5) conte ilates the employment of a single frame for the twoengines, with the cros hcad and cross-head guides closely adjathedistance between the two gangs of tools is kept down to a minimum, sothat the amount of over-cutting as described is comparatively small.

While in the construction shown in F 1 simultaneous adjustment of thetwo cylinders may be effected. either lengthwise the trucl; or at aninclination lateral thereto, we have shown in Fig. l a modifiedconstruction in respect to the movement of the standard upon the truck,which modified construction is advantageous for angle cutting. In theconstruction shown in l the standard is represented at 61 and isswivelled directly upon the trunnion shaft (32 extending lengthwise themachine. The standard is provided with a clamping cap 63, whereby it maybe clamped to the trunnion shaft in any position lengthwise the same,and at any desired angle or inclination from the vertical.

One feature of novelty in the machine illustrated in Fig. t is theprovision of one or more brace members, herein two, which are soarranged that when the standard is red lengthwise the machine from oneend the truck to the other the brace members may be moved with the samewithout the necessity of first detaching them from the standard or fromthe truck. Referring to lliqs. and t5, the standard is provided withpair of threaded brace reds (is, one at either side thereof, which havethreaded engagement with a split clamping member 65. The clampiuu'members are swiveled at opposite ends of the split sleeve 66, whichlatter is mounted to slide along the shaft 67 p rallel with the trunnionshaft. When the *idard is to be adjusted the clamping bolts (38 on thesleeve are loosened and the let i can he slid along the shaft 67 withthe sandal-d, thus greatly facilitating the ad justment of the machine.

The employment of a plurality of toolactuating units suitably associatedin some such fashion as herein described, where they are so arranged asto oppose each the reac tionary effect of the other upon its support,not only tends to reduce the vibration and shoe-l; within the machineitself through the lialanco secured between the operating parts, butalso reduces the tendency to lateral displacemei'it of the machine andthe tools within the out.

In the case of a channeling machine of the type illustrated if it werefitted with a single tool-actuating cylinder only, as here tofore, eachreversal in the reciprocatory increment of the heavy tool gang imparts areactionary shock or thrust to the machine. Such thrust, occurring}; asit does (in the direction of cuttinn') at one side of the truclc and oft from the center of gravity of the latter, vibrates and rocks themachine and tends to lift ii st one side of the truck and then the otherfrom the rails. This vibratory or rocking; in vcment of the machine isnot only disadvantageous of itself, but acts to oscillate the tools fromside to side within the cut as they are reciprocated and advanced. Thisnot only results in an imporfect cut and quickly dulls the cutting edgeswell as the sides of the tools through their frictional contact with thesides of the channel, but the frictional resistance to the tools causedthereby requires a greater expenditure of power both for the toolreciprocation and the power-fed. advance of the machine,

By the employment of a plurality of toolactuating units maintained inout-of-step reciprocation as,for example, the two channeling en 'inesdescribed which are reciprocated out-of-step and in direct oppositin,theunbalancmg effect of each unit upon the support is offsetby the opposedunbalancin effect of the other and the sidewise vibration or'rocl-zingmovement being scribed, since the reactionary effect of one 7 eliminatedor 'r-iaterially reduced, the tools may be retained against crampingaction in the kerit during the process of cuttlng. Furthermore in thecase of achanneler having 5 n,

in a state of excessive vibration.

In thercase of the balanced machine decylinder tends to offset that ofthe other, and the cylinders are rigidly connected to be adjusted aunit, the vibration and shocks referred to are absorbed largely or'wholly within the rigidly connected cvlinders themselves, and within thesliding frame to which they are attached, thereby relieving the feedscrews, standard, brace rods and other connections bv'which the standardis adjustably secured tothe truck, from the excessive vibration of amachine employing a single cutting unit. On this account not only maythe various adjustments of the cutting tools be secured by connectionshaving the maximum of rigidity with the minimum of lightness. but eachunit may be operated'at a much higher speed than in the case ofthesingle unit machine. Since the greatest eliiciency in cutting a channelis secured at higher speeds than can be attained in practice with asingle unit machine, due to the excessive vibration of the partsreferred to, the illustrated .form of machine, by permitting theattainment of a higher speed, se

cures acorrespondingly better cutting efli ciency.

It has been found in actual practice that not only does the describeddisposition and V relation of cutting units substantially eliminate theside or cross swing of the tool gang,

which is due to the transverse rocking of the truck-mounted machine, butin a machine like that herein lllustrated there is actually lntroduced alongitudinal swing of the tool gang in line with the channel groove,due.

to the slight rocking movement oi the machine lengthwise the trackway asthe tools alternately strike the bottom of the cut. This provides in eliect the same roll or swing which is imparted to a channeling tool inhand cutting, which roll or swing, so far as we are aware, has neverbeen secured by any prior form of power driven channcler. This roll orswing of the tool gang provides the most ellicient form of cuttingaction and also tends to keep clear the bottom of the cut of chips anddust.

hile, tor the purpose o'l illustrating one concrete embodiment of ourinvention, we have shown the same as embodied in a stone channelingmachine of a particular tvpe and construction, many features of theinvention, with their attendant advantages, may be applied to channelingmachines of other types and constructions as well as stone workingmachines other than channeling machines.

Vhile we have herein shown and described one form of our invention forillustrative purposes, it is to be understood that thesame is notlimited to the particular form or relative arrangement of parts, butthat extensive modifications may he made in the same without departingfrom the spirit of our invention.

Claims.

1. A charmeling machine having; a wheeled truck, a pair of channelingengines substantially rigidlymounted in relatively close rolationship atthe side thereof in a. position to cut a dmvnwardly disposed channelgroove parallel with the direction of travel of said ma chine, saidengines being mounted. one in advance of the other, a reciprocutorytoolcarrying cross head for each engine, a reversing valve for eachengine and connections between the reversing valve of ca ch engine andthe cross head of the other engine whereby each engine is reversed. bythe move ment of the other and the two engines maintained insubstantially simultaneous opposed step, thereby to prevent the sidewiscrocking movement of the truck and maintain the channeling tools inalinement with the intended cutting plane.

A channeling machine containing, in combination, a wheeled truck adaptedto run upon a. suitable trackwa along a supporting surface, a pair ofreciprocatory tool-actuating devices, substantially rigid supportingmeans for directing the tools to cut a continuous kerf at the side ofthe truclc transverse to the plane of the supportin g surface, saidtool-actuating devices being located in relatively close relationshipside by side one in advance of the other in the direction of travel ofthe truck, and means to substan tlally simultaneously reciprocate said.devices in reverse relation whereby they oflset each the unbalancingeffect of the other upon the supporting means and the truck and retainthe tools against cramping action in the kerf during the process ofcutting.

3. A channeling machine containing, in combination, a wheeled truckadapted to run upon a suitable trackway along a supporting surface,power-actuated means thereon for advancing said truck during theoperation of the machine, a plurality of reci n'ocatory tool-actiuuiingdevices, substantially rigid supporting means for directing the tools tocut a continuous kerf at the side of the truck transverse to the planeof the supporting surface during the power-fed advance of the machine,said devices being located in relatively close relationship side by sideand one in advance of the other, and means for causing the reciprocationof said. devices in substantially simultaneous relatively timedout-of-step relation whereby they offset each the unbalancing eilecl ofthe other and retain the tools against cramping action in the kerfduring the process of cutting.

4. A stone working machine having a movable support, a plurality oftool-actuating devices substantially rigidly sustained at one sidethereof and so directed as to cut transversely to the horizontal plane,said devices being located in relatively close relationship one inadvance of the other, thereby to cut a continuous channel groove in thedirection of movement of the support, and means for imparting asubstantially simultaneous reciprocating movement to said devices in outof step substantially balanced relation, thereby to cause said deviceseach to offset the unbalancing effect of the other or others on the saidsupport.

5. A channeling machine having a truck, a standard mounted. at the sideof the truck and carrying a channeling unit, means for rigidly l itadjustably holding the standard at its lower end whereby it may beadjusted from one end of the truck to the other, a brace member adaptedto have one end secured to the standard near its upper end and itsopposite end secured to the truck near the opposite side of the truckfrom the standard and adapted to act as a brace for said standard duringthe cutting operation of the machine, and means adjustably securing thetruck-connected end of the brace member whereby it can be adjustedlengthwise the truck without detachment from the truck.

6. A channeling machine having a truck, a standard mounted at the sidethereof car rying a channeling unit, means adjustably securing thestandard to the truck for adjustment of the same lengthwise the truckand also for adjustment thereof backward over said truck for anglecutting, comprising a brace member secured near the upper end of thestandard, a sleeve to which said brace member is attached and a shaftrunning lengthwise the truck along which said sleeve is adapted toslide.

7. A channeling machine having a wheeled truck, a pair of reciprocatorytool-actuating devices, substantially rigid mountings for supportingsaid devices at the side of the truck in upright position, said devicesbeing located in relatively close relationship one in advance of theother in the direction of travel of the truck, thereby to cut acontinuous channel groove, means for feeding the truck, and means foroperating said devices in substantially simultaneous reverse relation toproduce a balanced effect upon the truck, transverse the same and anunbalancing effect upon the truck lengthwise the same, thereby toprevent the sidewise swinging movement of the tool while imparting aswing to the tool lengthwise the channel groove.

8. In a channeling machine, the combination with a truck adapted to runupon a suitable supporting surface, a plurality of reciprocatorytool-actuating devices, a common support for said tool-actuating devicesdirecting the tools to cut a continuous lrerf at the side of the truck,said tool-actuating devices being located in relatively close relationship side by side one in advance of the other in the direction oftravel of the truck, means for adjustably inclining the said support andthereby simultaneously adjusting said tool-actuating devices to vary theangle of cut, and means for reciprocating said devices in substantiallysimultaneous opposed step relation wiereby they offset each thereactionary effect of the other upon the said common support and thetruck.

9. A channeling machine having a truck adapted to run upon a suitabletrackway along a supporting surface, a plurality of reciprocatorytool-actuating devices, a com men upright support to which said devicesare attached, said devices being located in relatively closerelationship side by side and one in advance of the other, thereby tocut a continuous channel groove in the lirection of travel of: thetruck, means for adj ust ing said support together with said devices asa unit on the truck toward or from the work, and means for reciprocatingsaid devices in substantially sin'iultaneous, relatively timed,out-of-step relation whereby they offset each the reactionary effect ofthe other on the said support and its attachment to the truck.

10. A channeling machine having a truck adapted to run upon a suitabletraclrway along a supporting surface, plurality of reciprocatorytool-actuating devices there on, a common upright support for saidtoolactuating devices, said devices being located ioo in relativelyclose relationship side by side on said support and one in advance ofthe other, thereby to cut a continuous kerf in the'direction oftravel ofthe truck, means for securing said support to either end of the truck toout a continuous kerf at the side of the truck and at the leading endthereof, and'means for reciprocating said toolactuating devices insubstantially simulta neous out-ot-step relation, thereby to oifset eachthe reactionary effect of the other and 12. A channeling machine havinga plurality of pressure fluid-operated, tool-actuating devices,traversing means on which the same are mounted to cut a channel groove,said devices being located one in advance of the other, thereby to cut acontinuous channel groove in" the direction of movement of the support,meansfor applying the pressure fluid to maintain said devicessimultaneously operating in an opposed step relation whereby they ofiset each the unbalancing eiiect of the other, and means for controllingthe fluid to render one of said devices temporarily inoperative whilepermitting the cutting operation of the other.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT BALL. HENRY H. MERCER. lVitnesses Ronnn'r J. MERRILL, THOMAS 13.BoorH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G.

